Gleanings in Graveyards Part 6

CALSTOCK.

James Berlinner, killed at Huel Bedford, 1844.

Consider well both old and young, Who by my grave do pa.s.s, Death soon may come with his keen scythe, And cut you down like gra.s.s.

Tho' some of you perhaps may think From danger to be free, Yet in a moment may be sent, Into the grave like me.

William Kellaway, 1822.

My body is turned to dust, As yours that living surely must, Both rich and poor to dust must fall, To rise again, when Christ doth call.

Elizabeth Roskelly, 1844.

Farewell, dear husband, I bid adieu, I leave nine children to G.o.d and you; I hope you'll live in peace and love, I trust we all shall meet above.

Tho' months and years in pain and tears, Through troubled paths I've trod, My Saviour's voice bids me rejoice, And calls my soul to G.o.d.

ST. NEOT.

Here lieth the body of John Robyns, of this parish, buried the 27th day of December, 1724, about the 80th year of his age.

"Prosopeia Defuncti."

"Mark thou that readest, and my case behold, Ere long thou shalt be closed in death's fold, As well as I; nothing on earth can save Our mortal bodies, from the darksome grave.

Then timely think thereon, to mind thy end; Wisely to be prepared when G.o.d shall send To fetch thee hence; and then thou shalt but die, To live at rest with Christ eternally.

"Here lieth John Robyns, in his bed of dust, Who in the Lord did ever put his trust; And dying, gave a pension to the poor, Yearly for ever, which unlocks the door Of everlasting bliss, for him to reign With Christ his head, his great, and truest gain: And with the holy angels sit and sing Eternal anthems to the heavenly king."

"If this stone be not kept in repair, The legacy devolves unto his heir."

BODMIN.

Here lies the Body of John Meadow, His life pa.s.sed away like a shadow.

TRURO.

Here lies we Babies three, Here we must lie Until the Lord do cry, "Come out, and, live wi' I!"

Derbyshire.

BAKEWELL.

On a defunct Parish Clerk.

The vocal Powers here let us mark, Of Philip our late Parish Clerk, In Church was ever heard a layman, With clearer voice say Amen?

Who now with Hallelujah sound Like him can make the roofs rebound?

The Choir lament his choral tones; The town so soon here lie his bones.

Sleep undisturbed within thy peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with such notes as thine.

Devonshire.

STOKE FLEMING.

By Dr. Walcot, alias Peter Pindar.

To the Memory of Margaret Southcotte, who died the 27th of August, 1786, aged 12 years and 9 months.

Beneath this stone, in sweet repose, The friend of all, a fair one lies: Yet hence let Sorrow vent her woes, Far hence let Pity pour her sighs; Tho' every hour thy life approv'd, The muse the strain of grief forbears; Nor wishes, tho' by all belov'd, To call thee to a world of cares.

Best of thy s.e.x, alas! farewell, From this dark scene remov'd to shine, Where purest shades of mortals dwell, And virtue waits to welcome thine.

An ill-natured critic wrote the following under these beautiful lines:-

Can a Southcotte be said to deserve all the praise Which above in the rhymes may be seen?

But 'tis not impossible, since the stone says She had not reached the age of thirteen!

LYDFORD.

"Here lies, in a _horizontal_ position, the outside _case_ of George Routleigh, Watchmaker, whose abilities in that line were an honour to his profession.

Integrity was the _mainspring_, and prudence the _regulator_ of all the _actions_ of his life; Humane, generous, and liberal, his _hand_ never _stopped_ till he had relieved distress: So nicely _regulated_ was his _movements_, that he never _went wrong_, except when _set a-going_ by people who did not know _his key_: Even then he was easily _set right_ again.

He had the art of disposing of his _Time_, so well, That his _hours_ glided away in one continual _round_ of pleasure and delight, Till an unlucky _moment_ put a _period_ to his existence.

He departed this life November 14, 1802, aged 57, _wound up_, in hopes of being taken in _hand_ by his _Maker_: and of being thoroughly _cleaned_, _repaired_, and _set a-going_ for the world to come."

TAVISTOCK.